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Present Tense

The Present Tense Verb

The Kind of Action of the Present Tense:

The present tense primarily expresses linear action; however, depending on context can focus on a point in time.  With the Greek verb the time is secondary to the type of action; therefore, the present tense is not restricted to only expressing action going on in the present time. The time element is expressed by the mode more than the tense; however, the progressive force of the present tense needs to be considered regardless of what mode it is used with, especially the Subjunctive and Optative modes.

The Aoristic  Present

Denotes point-in-time action in the present time; taking place at the moment of speaking or writing without reference to its progress.

And Peter said to him, “Aenea, Jesus the Christ heals you, stand up furnish for yourself and he immediately rose. Acts 9:34

The Gnomic Present

Represents that which is assumed to be true at all times; simply affirming that something does happen under given circumstances.

The Historical Present

Portrays a past action as though it were going on at the moment it was written. It expresses vividness in dramatic narration where the writer can still picture the events in his mind as though they were still happening and he is still involved in them.

The next day John seeing Jesus coming towards him and said, “Look with discernment, the Lamb of God, the One taking away the sin of the world. John 1:29

The Futuristic Present

Pictures a future event, which is so certain to the writer that he writes of it as though it was already taking place.

The Descriptive Present

Represents an […]

Present Tense2023-12-11T12:19:13-08:00

Participles

The Classification of the Participle

The Ascriptive Use

The participle ascribes some fact, quality, or characteristic to the noun, or designates the noun as belonging to a general class

The participle like the adjective may modify the noun in the attributive relation. This construction may occur without an article. John 1:9

The participle may be used like an adjective in the predicate, after a verb of being.

When the participle is not accompanied by a noun it may function as a noun. This construction may be found with or without the article. It may be used as subject, object, or modifier

The Restrictive Use

The participle may denote an affirmation that distinguishes the noun which it qualifies as in some way specially defined, or marked out in its particular identity.

The Ascriptive Participle only assigns a quality or characteristic, the Restrictive Participle denotes distinctiveness.

The Telic Participle

Purpose may be denoted by the participle.

The Temporal Participle

The Participle is used in the sense of a temporal clause, where it may be translated in English by when, after, or while.

The Causal Participle

The Participle may denote that which is the grounds for action in the main verb. Here it functions in the same general relation as a causal clause introduced by because or since.

The Conditional Participle

The participle may function as the protasis of a conditional sentence.

The Concessive Participle

The participle may denote a sense of concession, being used either with or without the concessive particle.

The Instrumental Participle

The participle may indicate the means by which the action of the main verb is accomplished.

The Modal Participle

The participle may signify the manner in which the action of the main verb is accomplished. This use of the participle may be accompanied by ὡς.

The Complementary Participle

The participle may be used to […]

Participles2023-12-11T12:22:40-08:00

Pluperfect Tense

The Pluperfect Tense

The Kind of Action of the Pluperfect Tense:

Linear and Punctiliar. The past tense of completed action with abiding results.

In this use, verbs that denote a present state in the perfect denote a past state in the pluperfect. These verbs are linear in force, functioning practically like imperfects when put into the past. The reality of the fact is stressed, which present it more strongly than could be done with the aorist. It must be translated into English by the simple past.

The Extensive Pluperfect

This use denotes a state following completed act in past time. Sometimes it is made clear by the context that a considerable space of time has intervened. It is used to take the reader behind the scenes. John uses it most frequently.

The Iterative Pluperfect

This use represents a past action as a series of events. It is very rare in the New Testament. Some have referred to it as the “Pluperfect of Broken Continuity”.

The Pluperfect of Conditional Sentence

This use denotes the continuance of the contingent result in a second-class condition to the time of speaking. The Pluperfect is used where the second-class conditions are determined to be unfulfilled in relationship to the past.

The Periphrastic Pluperfect

This use, which is formed by adding the perfect participle to an imperfect of εἰμί, occurs somewhat frequently in the New Testament. A majority of the occurrences are “intensive,” the rest are “extensive.”

© 2017 Luther Walker | All Rights Reserved | ISBN-10: 0-9993211-0-2, ISBN-13: 978-0-9993211-0-2 | This book or any potion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or […]

Pluperfect Tense2023-12-11T12:21:43-08:00

Perfect Tense

The Perfect Tense

The Kind of Action of the Perfect Tense:

Durative and Punctiliar. Completed action with abiding results.

The Dramatic Perfect

An action completed in the past is conceived in terms of the present time for the sake of vividness. This was a use suited for the orator or the dramatist, and was often used in rhetorical questions. John uses it more than any other New Testament writer. It would be similar to ours, “The first thing you know he has done it.” (It is sometimes referred to as the “Present Perfect.”).

The Intensive Perfect 

This use is a strong way of saying that a thing is, denoting an action rather than a state resulting from an action, having the force of an emphatic present. Stress is placed on the existing fact. This is done more forcibly than either the Greek or English present could ever do. This use is primarily used with verbs of senses.

The Extensive Perfect

This use denotes a completed act that has abiding results. It emphasizes that the action took place and still has abiding results. The finished process with its results is expressed, not the existing state. (CF. The Intensive Perfect). This is the most frequent use of the perfect.

The Gnomic Perfect 

This use denotes an action that was generally true. It is rare in the New Testament.

The Iterative Perfect 

This use denotes repeated action. Completed action is stressed, but something in the context or in the meaning of the word (or both) indicate(s) that the idea of the action was iterative. It is relatively rare in the New Testament.

The Periphrastic Perfect

This use emphasizes an existing state. It is made up of the perfect […]

Perfect Tense2023-12-11T12:21:28-08:00
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